Thank you for the reply. Has the auto tune or Mtronic system gave you any trouble?
Husqvarna 550xp mark 2 or Stihl ms261
- Thread starter Mitjam
- Start date
RCW
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BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
I'm not much help but certainly agree with the professional-saw sentiment.
I've mostly run pro saws for over 40 years. It hurts to buy them, but I think it's $$ well spent. I've had homeowner saws too and still have one. Works great most of the time as I get older.
I have almost zero experience with "computerized" saws. A friend bought a new Husky 572(?) saw with electronics. Couple days in, saw wouldn't fire. Took it back to dealer, who tried to fix it. Ended up handing him a new saw because they couldn't make the other work......
Not picking on Husky, at that time I was looking seriously at a Stihl 361 or 362 with electronics....I left it on the shelf because of electronics and my friend's experience with them.
I'm sure they've gotten more reliable over the years. If I were to buy another tomorrow, it would likely be the MS362.
As far as Stihl vs. Husky, I think that's like a Ford vs. Chevy loyalty discussion. I think both make good saws.
I've mostly run pro saws for over 40 years. It hurts to buy them, but I think it's $$ well spent. I've had homeowner saws too and still have one. Works great most of the time as I get older.
I have almost zero experience with "computerized" saws. A friend bought a new Husky 572(?) saw with electronics. Couple days in, saw wouldn't fire. Took it back to dealer, who tried to fix it. Ended up handing him a new saw because they couldn't make the other work......
Not picking on Husky, at that time I was looking seriously at a Stihl 361 or 362 with electronics....I left it on the shelf because of electronics and my friend's experience with them.
I'm sure they've gotten more reliable over the years. If I were to buy another tomorrow, it would likely be the MS362.
As far as Stihl vs. Husky, I think that's like a Ford vs. Chevy loyalty discussion. I think both make good saws.
Yotekiller
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L2502, LP 60" BB, LP pallet forks, 60" KK Tiller, 55" HSI root grapple
Here is the problem with the Stihl gas caps. You have to do a twist lock operation, kind of like a combination lock, to get the gas cap on correctly. It can appear to be on tight, but another high torque twist is needed. You can hear a click, but it's not tight. I bet the Stihl Engineer got an award for that design.
I have 4 Stihl saws, a couple from deceased family members.
Stihl 011 from about 1979
Stihl MS180C
Stihl MS250
Stihl MS271 Farm Boss
The only one that has given me problems is the MS180C. It only has one adjustment and that is for idle speed. Have to replace the carb about every 4 years.
That's a small homeowner saw with tiny carb, but still should run fine. Do you use non-ethanol gas, and a syringe to remove the fuel after use and run the engine to stall? Did you use a STIHL replacement carb or Chinese?
There's a fine screen filter in the carb that can get a clear film buildup, kind of like diesel gets snot blobs; maybe it's a bio-film from water that ethanol in fuel absorbs, but it blocks the first screen filter at the gas inlet. A pick can be used to remove and clean the screen.
"Value-based" Chinese carbs tend to last 2 to 4 years. My guess from years of dealing with Chinese polymers is the pump and o-ring "rubber" "melt" and gum up the passages. STIHL outsources some homeowner saw parts to China so the polymers could be Chinese and going through breakdown, but a.) STIHL would likely rectify that quickly and b.) I haven't heard of the problem other than with "value-based carbs."
I use 89 octane gas with ethanol and 2 oz/gallon sea foam. I rotate through the gas cans no more than 6 months. With 2 Stihl leaf blowers, 3 string trimmers and 4 chainsaws, the MS180C is the only problem. I have replaced the carbs with Stihl OEMs. I run the 011 avt dry since I don't use it often.
Ethanol seems to me to be the problem, I don't know of running into a clear [bio-?]film on the carb screen before the introduction of ethanol (and therefore water) into the fuel, however screens used to be bigger so that's not conclusive. I suck the fuel out and so far, so good.
The only thing I've found that kind of stabilizes ethanol gas for non-saw use is SeaFoam Marine.
STIHL Engine Oil (the cheaper stuff in the orange bottle, not the more expensive stuff in the gray/silver bottle) seems to do a great job. I did not try ECHO or Husqvarna oils but hear they work well, especially ECHO.
Mystic 2-Stroke Engine Oil (Fleet Farm) does not do a good job of keeping my premium (yet ethanol) fuel from going bad, much to my dismay, but otherwise works well and makes the woods smell like some sort of pot processing facility. (Yeah man, it's the saw man.)
My Stihl manual recommends that mid-grade fuel with up to 10% alcohol be used rather than corn free fuel because whatever additives are used in place of alcohol may be harmful to the engine in some way. So, that's what I have been using along with the Stihl synthetic 2-cycle oil (silver bottle). I sometimes have fuel sit in the can for up to a year and have had no issues using it.
I do pay the extra for corn free fuel for all of my 4-cycle engines which have carburetors. It is available only in high octane in my area.
I do pay the extra for corn free fuel for all of my 4-cycle engines which have carburetors. It is available only in high octane in my area.
Thanks to all who sent a reply, end up with at stihl ms261c. Have always been husqvarna but getting hard to find dealers never mind good ones. Anyways my town has 2 dealers and just about every town has someone that can bring in stihl. Excited to use it but prob won’t be for awhile looking at forecast 
I think you made a great choice.
I always wondered at what point one needs a pro saw.
I have a ms271 wood boss that I bought in October 2012.
That is what the ms271 was called back then. My only heat source
is wood and I cut and split 25 face cords every year with that
saw. I have had 0 problems and run the Stihl gray oil and premium gas only.
What advantage would the pro saw provide me to warrant the additional cost.
I'm sure at some point this saw will need an upgrade.
I always wondered at what point one needs a pro saw.
I have a ms271 wood boss that I bought in October 2012.
That is what the ms271 was called back then. My only heat source
is wood and I cut and split 25 face cords every year with that
saw. I have had 0 problems and run the Stihl gray oil and premium gas only.
What advantage would the pro saw provide me to warrant the additional cost.
I'm sure at some point this saw will need an upgrade.
I just really like power to weight ratio and some features. Your right one doesn’t need a pro saw. If you use good gas and know how to cut wood and sharpen a chain go a long way, but between the two models up here in Canada was $150 difference so thought couldn’t hurt. Pro model has all metal oiler that is adjustable. Magensium crankcase easier to rebuild if need be. The bar nuts are captive so won’t fall of or lose them when removing clutch cover. This model has the mtronic system which basically adjust carbs for you. That is my only worry but reading reviews seem to be pretty tried, tested and trued system. Fingers crossed
Runs With Scissors
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Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Yotekiller
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L2502, LP 60" BB, LP pallet forks, 60" KK Tiller, 55" HSI root grapple
Thanks to all who sent a reply, end up with at stihl ms261c. Have always been husqvarna but getting hard to find dealers never mind good ones. Anyways my town has 2 dealers and just about every town has someone that can bring in stihl. Excited to use it but prob won’t be for awhile looking at forecast
It's a great saw. I think the 550 cuts a bit faster but the 261 has more torque. Put a custom pipe on that 261 and it will really open it up and make it run better AND cooler.
I own several 50cc saws, including the 261, 550, 026, 4910, and EA5000, and have several other pro saws. I find myself running the 4910 more than anything for some weird reason. I just love how that saw feels and runs. But I have it pretty heavily modded too. You will be happy with the 261. Is it the Version 1 or 2?
I was looking at echo, just dealer is hour away and not really the greatest so many stihl dealers which is reassuring for sure. This is the M 3.0. Has the white fuel solenoid. Not sure the color of fuel filter. Just know some of the older models you could buy the better solenoid and fuel filter I guess? Stihl called it tune up kit
Yotekiller
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L2502, LP 60" BB, LP pallet forks, 60" KK Tiller, 55" HSI root grapple
I completely spaced the V3 was out! I have the V1 and it's been a great saw. It will always start by the 3rd pull no matter what the temp is outside.
Yotekiller
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L2502, LP 60" BB, LP pallet forks, 60" KK Tiller, 55" HSI root grapple
You can order a 4910 from Home Depot and have them shipped. Echo isn't great about warranty but I have always done all my own repairs anyways so not an issue.
They are definitely a much simpler saw. And ppl that have them seem to really like them. If i ever need another saw i would grab one forsure.